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2002 Volvo S40

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Volvo S40 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 16 of 27 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2009
Electrical SystemPower TrainSuspension

FRONT END SUSPENSION ISN'T RIGHT,PULLS WHEN DRIVING AND THERE IS A KNOCKING ITEMS NHTSA 10016415 AND 630879. CHECK ENGINE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON 10003441. THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING 10003398. THERE WAS NEVER AN ACCIDENT THESE ARE JUST ONGOING THINGS AND THE SUSPENSION MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS HARD…

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FRONT END SUSPENSION ISN'T RIGHT,PULLS WHEN DRIVING AND THERE IS A KNOCKING ITEMS NHTSA 10016415 AND 630879. CHECK ENGINE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON 10003441. THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING 10003398. THERE WAS NEVER AN ACCIDENT THESE ARE JUST ONGOING THINGS AND THE SUSPENSION MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS HARD TO GET PASSED FOR INSPECTION IN NC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276396

30,000 miles · Feb 15, 2007
Electrical System

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE 2002 VOLVO S40 HE TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A THICK BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL AND FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VOLVO DEALER A…

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE 2002 VOLVO S40 HE TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND A THICK BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL AND FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VOLVO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 30,000.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10182634

48,000 miles · Aug 12, 2005
Electrical System

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY VOLVO S40 SEDAN. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS OPERATING IT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEN CONTACTED THE VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS IN A VERY BUSY INTERSEC…

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IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY VOLVO S40 SEDAN. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS OPERATING IT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEN CONTACTED THE VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS IN A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN TOWN. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A VERY SERIOUS CRASH. THEY SENT A REGIONAL TECHNICIAN TO THE VOLVO DEALER. VOLVO HAD THE CAR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND SAID WHILE THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, THEY REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS. I EXPERIENCED NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL JUNE OF 2005 WHEN THE EXACT PROBLEM RESURFACED. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND CONTACTED VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE, THEY INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY STILL COULD NOT TELL WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SO THEY WOULD NOT "THROW PARTS" AT A CAR. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BOTH IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND KNOW FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATION OF CAR CRASHES. WE FELT SO UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE, THAT WE DECIDED TO TRADE IT IN JULY OF 2005....A VERY COSTLY AND FINANCIALLY DEVASTATING RESULT. (WE LOST OVER $4,300) HOWEVER, I FELT TOO GUILTY TO SELL THE CAR TO ANYONE PRIVATELY. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED THAT VOLVO REFUSED TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM AND LEFT ME NO OTHER CHOICES THAN TO DRIVE IN A VERY UNSAFE CAR, OR FACE FINANCIAL DEVASTATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10132646

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2005
Electrical System

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES AND A TAILLIGHT 2 TIMES, A CONSOLE LIGHT, AND THE FUSE TO MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER IN MY 2002 VOLVO S40; 5 OF THESE THINGS IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS. THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP SAYS VOLVOS NOW ( THEY DIDN'T SPECIFY ANY PARTICULAR YEAR OF VOLVOS) ARE BLOWING HEADLIGHTS SO FREQUENTLY, THAT THE CUSTOMER…

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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT 3 TIMES AND A TAILLIGHT 2 TIMES, A CONSOLE LIGHT, AND THE FUSE TO MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER IN MY 2002 VOLVO S40; 5 OF THESE THINGS IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS. THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP SAYS VOLVOS NOW ( THEY DIDN'T SPECIFY ANY PARTICULAR YEAR OF VOLVOS) ARE BLOWING HEADLIGHTS SO FREQUENTLY, THAT THE CUSTOMER REPS KEEP HEADLIGHT BULBS IN THEIR DESK DRAWERS AND REPLACE THEM FOR FREE. TO ME, THIS MEANS EITHER THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THE VOLVO VOLTAGE REGULATORS OR THIS PARTICULAR VOLVO DEALERSHIP IS PUTTING ME OFF TO TRY KEEP THIS REPAIR FROM BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY MY CAR WARRANTY. I SAY THIS BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I ASKED ABOUT MY LIGHTS BLOWING SO FREQUENTLY, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE LIGHT BULBS TEND TO BLOW IN COLD WEATHER. THE SECOND TIME I ASKED, THEY SAID ALL VOLVOS WERE DOING THAT. I LOOKED ON YOUR SITE ABOUT SAFETY RECALLS ON VOLVOS AND SAW NOTHING ABOUT VOLTAGE PROBLEMS. TONIGHT I HAVE ALSO SENT AN EMAIL TO VOLVO.COM SITE SO OBVIOUSLY I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE FROM THEM. SINCE SAFETY LIGHTS (HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHTS) ARE AN ISSUE WITH THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH MY CAR AND THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S A COMMON VOLVO PROBLEM, I THOUGHT I SHOULD PASS THIS BY YOUR SITE TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109875

6 miles · Nov 5, 2003
Electrical SystemCrash

THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN HORN BUTTON WAS PRESSED FROM THE LEFT SIDE. THE HORN DID NOT WORK AT TIMES OR EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NEEDED.*AK CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH HE TRIED TO USE THE HORN BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOT REPAIRED TO WORKI…

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THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN HORN BUTTON WAS PRESSED FROM THE LEFT SIDE. THE HORN DID NOT WORK AT TIMES OR EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NEEDED.*AK CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH HE TRIED TO USE THE HORN BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOT REPAIRED TO WORKING ORDER. *PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10042382

Official recalls

1

03V284000 · Equipment:other:labels

Aug 1, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.